Christmas ceremony has been held at the Saint Antoine Church in İstanbul. High Priest Julian Pista said that they welcome high attendance and people from every background.

Max Zirngast, a journalist from Austria who has been behind bars in Ankara since September 21, has been released from prison. An international travel ban has been imposed on the journalist.

Today is Christmas, the day Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. We wish a merry Christmas to everyone who celebrates it.

Submitting a parliamentary question to be responded by Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu, HDP Muş MP Kılıç Koçyiğit has brought the allegations regarding the murder of one person in Sakarya because he was Kurdish into parliamentary agenda.

Releasing a joint statement regarding the prison sentence given to Şebnem Korur Fincancı, a signatory to the declaration “We will not be a party to this crime”, rights and law organizations have said, “Advocacy for human rights cannot be sentenced.”

Commenting on the release of a man arrested for having sexually abused his 12-year-old cousin, attorney Harika Günay Karataş has stated, “Male justice has continued its proceedings in Yüksekova. The Heavy Penal Court in the district is the instigator now.”

Akpınar and Gezen, against whom the İstanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation due to their statements on a TV program, have been released on probation after their depositions at the Prosecutor’s Office.

In the wake of an investigation launched against them due to their statements on a television program, theater and film actors Metin Akpınar and Müjdat Gezen have been referred to court after deposing at the Prosecutor's Office.

Journalist Hakan Gülseven, who was arrested because of the compensation penalties that he did not pay, has been released after his former employer made the payment.

The Governorship of Diyarbakır has announced that a curfew has been declared in two villages and five hamlets in the district of Lice in Turkey’s southeastern province of Diyarbakır on the ground of an operation to be launched in the region.

“We Are All in the Same Hive” campaign by Greenpeace has succeeded. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has announced that the use of three chemicals threatening the bees has been banned.

In the wake of Erdoğan's statement addressing Akpınar and Gezen without referring to them by their names, “You mentioned hanging the president on the rope? Now, you go and pay the price for it”, an investigation has been launched against the actors.

In the case of the murder of journalist Hrant Dink, the court has ruled that defendants Hamza Celepoğlu and Yavuz Karakaya shall be released.

Three events to be held at Middle East Technical University (METU) on December 19 have been banned on the pretext of “electoral process.” Presidency of the university has also closed METU Media Community, which was reporting the protests at METU.

The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure has released a statement about the transfer of equipment and flights from İstanbul Atatürk Airport to the 3rd airport. The statement has not given information on when the transfer will be completed.

Main opposition CHP MP Alpay Antmen has submitted a parliamentary question to the Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak regarding the recent increases in taxes imposed on electronic publications.

Supreme Election Council has announced the rules and restrictions of propaganda for local elections. Accordingly, candidates will be permitted to propagandize in different languages, but cannot send messages to voters’ phones or computers.

Making a call to Turkey to abide by the ECtHR ruling and release Selahattin Demirtaş, PEN International has emphasized that he has been elected as an honorary member by PEN centers in Germany, Mexico and Catalonia and invited others to follow suit.

PACE Monitoring Committee Turkey co-reporters have condemned the prison sentence given to PACE Honorary Member Kürkçü: “We urge the Turkish authorities to abide by their Council of Europe obligations and to reconsider this judgment.”

While presenting his statement of defense, academic Alper Akyüz, who could not remember the subject in question, has been interrupted by Presiding Judge: “You are an academic, know and have researched everything. Don’t you remember it?”